September 4, 2002

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . Six Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) football teams get its season underway with a non-Conference game on Saturday, September 7. The remaining four teams begin its season on September 14, with non-Conference games before the Conference season begins on September 21.

This week, Buena Vista and Loras begin its season at home against Southwest State (Minn.) and Monmouth (Ill.), respectively. Beginning the season on the road this weekend are Cornell at Colorado College, Simpson at Washington (Mo.), Upper Iowa at Nebraska Wesleyan and Wartburg at Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

On September 14, Central travels to Augustana (Ill.), Coe travels to Eureka (Ill.), Dubuque hosts Martin Luther and Luther hosts Minnesota-Morris. In non-Conference competition last season, the Iowa Conference posted a 7-3 record.

Big Games on the Conference Schedule: On September 21, Wartburg will look to avenge one of its two losses from last season when it hosts Cornell. Week three (October 5) features Coe at Central. Last season the Kohawks entered the game with a 1-2 record, lost All-Conference quarterback Tim Vinyard in the game, lost to the Dutch but would lose just one more game all season to finish 6-4 (6-3 in the IIAC).

Week five (October 19) will allow Wartburg to avenge its other 2001 loss, when the Knights host Coe. Week six (October 26) matches perennial Conference powers, Central and Wartburg facing off at Central. The two schools have combined for 32 IIAC championships. On November 2 (week seven), Coe and Cornell renew what is believed to be the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi, as the teams battle for the 111th time since 1891.

Up-to-date composite Conference schedules, results and statistics are available on the football home page of the Conference web site at www.iowaconference.com. For the most up-to-date team rosters, visit the football home page of each schools’ athletic web site.

A complete team-by-team preview follows.

Buena Vista University Beavers
(5-5, 4-5 T-5th in IIAC)

Starters Returning/Lost: 11/14 (Offense – 5/6; Defense 5/6; Specialty 1/2)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 26/21

About the Offense: Buena Vista’s top offensive threats all return to the line-up this season. Junior running back Craig Rowedder gained 896 yard on 218 carries and scored seven times last season. Senior quarterback Eric Jamison completed 78 passes for 981 yards and six touchdowns. Two of Jamison’s favorite targets, senior wide receiver Josh Espinosa and sophomore wide receiver Michael Sullivan both return. Espinosa led the team with 32 receptions, 446 yards and three touchdowns. Sullivan had 19 receptions for 195 yards and two scores.

Junior running back Barry Van Voorst finished second to Rowedder with 374 rushing yards on 112 carries including two touchdowns. Senior Joe Pick and sophomore Ben Poole will handle the fullback duties this season.

Senior guard Greg Johnson will anchor the offensive line as the lone returnee from 2001. Senior Brandon Johnson will start at tight end, junior David Laudner and freshman Blake Dodd will start at tackle, and sophomore John Beck will start at guard. Sophomores Nick Nystrom and Matt Percival, and freshmen Adam Strater, Matt Romo, Joe Bandow and Derek Haden will also see time on the offensive line.

About the Defense: Two linebackers, two linemen and a defensive back return to the Beavers’ line-up. Senior linebackers Chad Behrens and Ian Gardner were tied for third on the team with 48 tackles. Behrens ranked second with 35 solo tackles and tied for third with seven tackles for loss. Gardner’s 30 solo tackles were tied for fifth and his three sacks ranked third. Senior Andy McCard will be the third linebacker. Sophomores Matt Mullen, Bryan Schwartz and Michael Irvin will back-up the starting trio. All three saw limited action as freshmen.

Senior Keegan Pace and junior James Mitchell return to the defensive line. Pace had 30 tackles, including 14 solo and was tied for third with seven tackles for loss. Mitchell recorded 20 tackles, was tied for third with seven tackles for loss and was second with four sacks. Junior Nick Barrett and sophomore Tom Mathiesen round out the starting defensive line. Junior Jeremy Morrison, sophomores Travis Hulbert and Kyle Gross and freshman Rick Ohlinger will back-up the linemen.

Junior defensive back Troy Nielsen had 11 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles last season and will be joined in the starting backfield by a trio of sophomores – Michael Lang, Scott Jamison and Matt Ambrose. Sophomores Cody Tibbetts and Brandon Goodchild along with freshmen Sonji Ketiku and Brant Goodchild will serve as back-ups.

About the Special Teams: Buena Vista must replace three-time All-Conference kicker Carlos Martinez, who led the team with 56 points last season. He also handled punting duties for the team, averaging 40.8 yards per punt. Sullivan takes over the kicking duties and senior Lance Lisk, who punted four times last season for an average of 33.5 yards, will be the punter.

Espinosa averaged 21.2 yards per kick return and 7.2 yards per punt return last season. Nielsen will also see extensive action returning punts.

About the Coach: Steve Osterberger begins his third season as head coach at Buena Vista. He has a 12-8 record in his previous two seasons.

Central College Dutch
(9-2, 8-1 1st in IIAC)

Starters Returning: 9/15 (Offense - 4/7; Defense 5/6; Specialty 0/1)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 31/24

About the Offense: Central must replace starters at each of the skill positions but have four starting offensive linemen to build around. Senior John Brees and junior Jeremy Christofferson return at right and left guard, respectively. Junior Brandon Sowers is the returning center and senior Joel Bartz and junior Ryan McCombs split time at left tackle.

Central must replace the remaining starters on offense including three First Team All-Conference players - right tackle Matt Petersen, wide receiver Chris McCullough and quarterback Jeff Borgman. Seniors Bob Hodges, Josh Edwards and Adam Humble along with sophomore Ike Hammerly are the front runners to replace Petersen and spell the offensive line.

Junior Phil Coonrod and sophomores Derek Livingston and Mark Isaacson will be called upon to replace Borgman. Including McCullough, the Dutch lost their top five receivers from last season. Senior Tony Rietema is back after a two-year absence. In 1999 he led the team with 29 receptions and 434 yards. Seniors Rex Gray, Matt Askew, and Cody Grimes along with juniors Russell Allen, Kurt Rietema, Scott Venteicher, and Jeff Peak, and sophomores Trent Cooper and Durk Pearston will battle for time at wideout.

In the backfield, senior Matt Brandt had 12 carries for 37 yards last season at fullback. He also had six receptions for 48 yards and one touchdown out of the backfield. Junior Joey Liekweg should be the top tailback after sitting out last season with a shoulder injury. In 2000 he had 857 yards on 141 carries. Senior Jesse Collins (230 yards on 57 carries last season) and sophomore Tyler Baethke (11 carries, 57 yards) will serve as Liekweg’s back-up. Junior Jarrod Joynt and sophomores Kyle Whisner, Chad Bass and Mark Newell will spell Brandt.

About the Defense: Senior linebacker Austin Bonnema (90 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss) was a First Team All-Conference performer and senior linemen Mike Merema (56 tackles, 18 TFL, 9 sacks) and Josh Heiden (46 tackles, 11 TFL, 6 sacks) were Second Team All-Conference performers last season. Senior Brady Boese (44 tackles) returns at linebacker and senior Eric Beer (34 tackles, 2 interceptions) returns at cornerback.

Seniors Todd Vande Noord, Jeese Bryngelson, Joel Sehr, Tate Goeman and Jeremy Dittmer along with juniors Mike Rasmussen, Matt Miller, Lucas Nims and Luke Rasmussen will see action on the defensive line. Senior Adam Rozenboom, junior Evan Lynam and sophomores Mark Sanger, Kevin Bonstetter and Kyle Parris will see time at linebacker.

Joining Beer in the backfield will senior free safety Jason Grant. Junior Greg Shepherd and sophomores Beau Blanchard and Reggie Osborn will see time at strong safety, while juniors Ryan Johnson and Randall Jarzombek and sophomore Jeff Jones compete for the second cornerback job.

About the Special Teams: Tim O’Neil handled both kicking and punting duties last season but has graduated. Seniors Troy Hocker and Adam Hines are the frontrunners for the kicking and punting duties, respectively. Sophomores Josh Anderson and Keith Easoba will also compete for time.

Gray returns as the top return man, averaging 27.9 yards per return last season.

About the Coach: Rich Kacmarynski enters his sixth season as head coach at Central. He has led the Dutch to a 49-8 record and three Conference titles in his first five years.

Coach Kacmarynski on his team: “I have high expectations for our team and our season. Compared to this time last year, we’re deeper and more experienced at almost every position. I think we could be good. We’ve got some strong elements to build around.”

Coach Kacmarynski on the Conference: “I think the IIAC will be as tough as ever. It will be a war of attrition. The coaching in this League has continued to improve and I think every team will be better. I think the IIAC is one of the best Leagues in the country.”

Coe College Kohawks
(6-4, 6-3 T-3rd in IIAC)

Starters Returning/Lost: 17/8 (Offense - 7/4; Defense 8/3; Specialty 2/1)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 34/9

About the Offense: Conference MVP Fredrick Jackson and quarterback Ben Stevens, who finished last season with a 127.5 quarterback rating lead a group of seven returning starters on offense. Jackson rushed for 1,002 yards on 222 carries and 12 touchdowns. He also led the team with 41 receptions and finished second with 473 receiving yards.

Stevens replaced All-Conference quarterback Tim Vinyard in the fourth game of the season and led the Kohawks to five straight victories. He finished the season with 92 completions, 1,362 yards and 14 touchdowns. Sophomore Joe Brannen will challenge Stevens for playing time.

Junior fullback Matt Wycoff, who rushed for 86 yard while splitting time with classmate Zack Pfantz will carry much of the fullback duties as Pfantz has been converted to linebacker.

The receiving corps will have to replace Aaron Foreman, who graduated as the school’s second all-time leading receiver. Junior Jared Rance and sophomore Jon Rife combined for 13 receptions and four touchdowns last season. Senior tight end John Clark had 21 receptions and 312 yards last season. Junior Josh Hoeg and sophomores Nate Davidson, Ryan Coppes and Cody Angle are also expected to contribute to the offense.

Returning offensive linemen include All-Conference tackle David Stevens, junior tackle Matt Kelly, junior guard Chris Bell and senior center Mike McCarthy. Seniors Clint Bitterman and Jason Simon, junior Justin Stein, and sophomores Matt Westberry and Tyler Boos will also see time on the line.

About the Defense: Three starters return to the defensive backfield including seniors Patrick Jackson and James Williams and junior Jim Gordon. Jackson made 73 tackles (third on team) and had seven interceptions (second in the Conference) last season. Williams had 62 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss last season. Gordon had 50 tackles and a team-high 11 pass breakups. Senior Shaun Ritchie, who battled injuries in 2001, is expected to complete the backfield.

At linebacker, Pfantz converts from fullback to join senior Bob Mettille and juniors Jared Fletcher and Kenny Ware. Mettille had 67 tackles and six tackles for loss, Fletcher had 30 tackles and Ware had 26 tackles last season.

On the defensive line, seniors Scott Searcy, Brad Curtin, Gunnar Malm and Jerald Brantley along with junior Scott Sutton return to the line. Sutton led the team with 6.5 sacks. Searcy had 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Curtin had 41 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss. Malm and Brantley had 28 and 27 tackles respectively.

About the Special Teams: All-Conference punter Scott Schara, who also handled the place kicking duties last season has graduated after averaging 40.1 yards per punt and connecting on 30-of-31 PATs. Angle, Tyler Staker and Adam Owen are the leading candidates to replace Schara.

Fredrick Jackson returns as the team’s top kick and punt returner. Last season he combined for 530 return yards as he finished third in the nation with 2,005 all-purpose yards.

About the Coach: Erik Raeburn enters his third season as head coach at Coe. During his tenure, the Kohawks have posted a 12-8 overall record.

Coach Raeburn on his team: “I am excited for the upcoming season because of how hard our players have been working and the way we played at the end of last year. Hopefully, we can stay healthy and build on last year’s finish.”

Cornell College Rams
(7-3, 6-3 T-3rd in IIAC)

Starters Returning/Lost: 16/9 (Offense - 8/3; Defense 8/5; Specialty 0/1)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 29/14

About the Offense: All-Conference quarterback Chris Lovely will direct the Cornell offense again this season. As a sophomore, he led the team in rushing with 1,015 yards and 14 touchdowns. He added 890 yards and eight touchdowns through the air. Sophomore Aaron Hadenfeldt, who rushed for 40 yards and threw for 23 more in limited action, will see time under center this season.

Cornell’s top three receivers are back in junior wide receiver Matt Ditch, senior running back Ian Harden and senior wide receiver Keith Kura. Ditch led the team with 18 receptions and 365 yards. Harden finished second with 17 receptions and 348 yards. Both players had four touchdown receptions. Kura had 83 yards on six catches. Sophomore Erik Pederson will rotate with Ditch and Kura at wideout.

In the backfield, Harden rushed for 176 yards on 40 carries last season, which ranked fourth on the team. Junior Rusty Yanksy rushed 17 times for 76 yards and will start at left slot. Junior Jesse Woskowicz, averaged 5.8 yards per carry last season and will start at right slot. Sophomores Ricky Legree and Rich Willemstein will rotate at fullback.

Cornell lost two All-Conference offensive linemen. Senior right tackle Ryan Devereux, junior right guard Paul Meek and junior center Andy Martin return to block for an offense that averaged 239.5 yards on the ground last season. Sophomore Mike Griswold and freshman Zach Frazer will get the starting nod at left guard and left tackle, respectively.

About the Defense: The Rams have a veteran defense with five seniors and two juniors among the eight returning starters. Senior nose guard Darryl Allen is the lone returning lineman but the linebacker and defensive back corps are strong. Senior Chet Knake, junior Mike Tilford and sophomore Ryan Hanes are back at linebacker. Senior Darnell Wiltz and junior Travis Lipsman are the returning corner backs, senior Joe Goorman is back at strong safety and senior Eric Sudol returns at free safety.

Knake finished second on the team last season with 102 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss, and was tied for second with 3.5 sacks. Sudol finished third with 54 tackles followed by Allen with 48 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss. Goorman had 37 tackles and two interceptions, Hanes had 33 tackles and three interceptions and Wiltz had 27 tackles and a team-high six interceptions.

Senior Brian Manatt (tackle) and sophomores Dominic Wilson (outside linebacker) and Brian Benight (tackle) round out the starting defensive line.

About the Special Teams: The Rams will need to find a replacement for place kicker Marc Myers, who joined the Cornell soccer team this season. Sophomore Joe Conklin, who connected on his only field goal attempt last season, and freshman Seth Bartlett will compete for the kicking duties. Ditch averaged 34.0 yards per punt last season and he will be backed-up by Hanes.

Last season Wiltz returned 19 punts, averaging 8.7 yards per return. He ranked second on the team with 10 kick returns for 270 yards.

About the Coach: Ray Reasland begins his first season as head coach at Cornell, replacing 2001 IIAC Coach of the Year Steve Miller. Reasland served nine seasons as Miller’s assistant and was the Rams’ head baseball coach for nine years, earning IIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2000.

Coach Reasland on his team: “We have a close knit team that expects to play well on a regular basis.”

Coach Reasland on the Conference: “This is one of the best Division III Leagues in the country from top to bottom and if you don’t execute and play hard every Saturday you can get beat at anytime. There seems to be a number of teams capable of competing at the top of the League this year depending on injuries, depth, breaks, special teams performance, etc.”

University of Dubuque Spartans
(2-8, 1-8 10th in IIAC)

Starters Returning/Lost: 13/11 (Offense – 5/6; Defense 6/5; Specialty 2/0)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 27/28

About the Offense: Sophomore quarterback Matt Rear, who threw for 1,330 yards and nine touchdowns leads the group of returning offensive letterwinners. Seniors Matt Klinkner and Jason Happach both received limited playing time last season but are the most experienced running backs this season. Klinkner finished third on the team with 45 yards on 28 carries in nine games. Happach saw action in seven games but had just two carries.

Seniors Pete Elmhorst, Brian Engelking and Mark Smith and junior Jake Bellich return to the offensive line

About the Defense: Sophomore lineman Nick Persico recorded 32 tackles (eighth on team) and 3.5 sacks in nine games last season. Sophomore Nate McCullough finished 10th on the team with 29 tackles, and second with six sacks. Sophomore linebacker Garrette Perrone finished the 2001 season with 25 tackles. Junior lineman David Palmer had 23 tackles including three tackles for loss. In just six games, junior linebacker Justin Penner had 10 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

About the Special Teams: Rear handled most of the punting duties last season, averaging 35.3 yards on 63 punts. Sophomore Ryan Wolfram finished third in team scoring last season, connecting on 2-of-4 field goals and 14-of-20 PATs. Freshman Mike Haun will challenge both players for their jobs.

About the Coach: Vince Brautigam enters his second season as head coach at Dubuque. Prior to his tenure at Dubuque, he served as head coach at Mount Scenario for 11 years. During his 12-year coaching career, Brautigam has posted a 67-48 record.

Coach Brautigam on his team: “With freshmen and sophomores making up approximately 85 percent of our 100-plus player roster, expect the unexpected. As a staff, we are looking for great effort and consistency.”

Coach Brautigam on the Conference: “With many of last year’s teams bringing back a lot of upperclassmen experience, the team that is standing and Conference Champion at the end will have definitely earned it.”

Loras College Duhawks
(5-5, 4-5 T-5th in IIAC)

Starters Returning/Lost: 18/6 (Offense - 8/3; Defense 8/3; Specialty 2/0)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 70/18

About the Offense: Loras’ passing game and line should be the strength of its offense. Senior quarterback Adam Hamil is back as are three of his top receivers in senior flanker Andy Burbach, senior split end Ben Burbach and sophomore tight end Adam Welbes. Hamil completed 84-of-205 passes for 1,280 yards and threw for 16 touchdowns. He added 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Andy Burbach led the team with 28 receptions, 568 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Ben Burbach was second on the team with 21 receptions, 406 yards receiving yards and four touchdowns. Welbes averaged 7.7 yards per catch in four games.

The offensive line has a four-year starter in tackle John Brosius, three-year starters in guard Curtis Johnson and tackle Pat Rice and two-year starter Tom Kropf at guard.

Starting tailback John Stewart and fullback Mike Claeys, the teams first and third leading rushers, both graduated. Junior Jeremy Brown, who finished second in rushing last season with 426 yards and three touchdowns, should be the primary threat out on the ground.

Sophomore wide receiver Nick Brown and sophomore tight end Travis Sullivan will look to make a bigger contribution to the offense this season. Brown had 141 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season. Sullivan had one reception in two games last season.

Freshmen lineman Ryan DeSotel, fullback Justin Peck and wide receiver Matt Burds will look to contribute immediately.

About the Defense: The backfield will be a question mark as the Duhawks must replace All-American strong safety Chris Miller and free safety Aaron Healey. Seniors Anthony Verdina and Justin Herman return to the corners. Verdina had 62 tackles, two interceptions and 12 pass break-ups. Herman had 34 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Junior Jarrod Phelps, who registered 11 tackles, will see increased playing time this season and freshman Sam Benda is expected to contribute in his first season.

The defensive line returns four starters including two All-Conference performers - senior end Mike Frels (70 tackles and a team-high 10.5 sacks) and tackle Dusty Oberbroeckling (55 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss). Also back are junior nose guard Steve Loppnow (27 tackles) and junior end Jason Wenzel (36 tackles, 4 sacks). Freshman Chris Doersam will provide depth on the line.

Junior middle linebacker Mike Blackbourn led the team with 105 tackles and is joined by junior outside linebacker Ryan Carney (45 tackles) as returning starters. Freshmen Steve Ihm and Doersam should see playing time at linebacker.

About the Special Teams: Two-time All-Conference punter Roberto Pino returns for his senior season. He averaged 38.0 yards per punt last season. Junior Tony Foxen connected on 23-of-29 PATs and 2-of-4 field goals for 29 points (third on team). Brown was the team’s top kick returner, averaging 20.8 yards in 16 returns.

About the Coach: Bob Bierie enters his 23rd season as head coach at Loras. He is the winningest coach in Duhawks history with a 128-92-5 career record.

Luther College Norse
(3-7, 2-7 9th in IIAC)

Starters Returning: 12 (Offense - 5; Defense 6; Specialty 1)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 40/16

About the Offense: Senior Derek Distin and junior Tom Krambeer will compete for the starting quarterback position but eight newcomers are waiting in the wings. Distin completed 83 passes for 921 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for three touchdowns. Krambeer passed for 131 yards in four games.

Junior running back Mike Jefferson led the team in rushing with 602 yards on 156 carries and six touchdowns. He enters the season 19th on Luther’s career rushing list (1,161 yards). He also had 17 receptions for 276 yards. Junior fullbacks Clint Willuweit and Matt Carpenter rushed for 392 and 254 yards, respectively. Juniors Adam Davis and Jason Stravers, and sophomore Seth Wigle all saw time in the backfield last season and will look to make a bigger contribution this season.

Junior Ashley Johnson returns as the Norse’s top receiver making 21 catches for 211 yards last season. Juniors Brock Reed and Adam Anderson saw limited action last season, but with the new offense implemented by first-year coach Paul Hefty, they will become more involved in the offense.

Four starters have graduated from the offensive line. Among those returning with starting experience include senior guard Bronson Powers and junior center Erick Weeg. Those battling for the playing time on the line include seniors Dan Fog, Sam Chenoweth and Matt Stefen, junior Lucas Giambelluca and sophomores Chris Bromman, Josh Minnes and Brad Paulsrud.

About the Defense: Luther finished second in total defense last season allowing just 257.9 yards per game. Six starters return from that defense led by junior linebacker Jason Grimm, who finished fourth on the team with 45 tackles and led the team with four sacks. Joining Grimm at linebacker are junior Dan Roggenbuck in the middle and Jon Pettlon at strong side linebacker. Roggenbuck had 39 tackles last season including a team-high 13 tackles for loss. Pettlon split time last season between fullback and defensive line. Sophomore John Jaeger made 13 tackles in limited action last season. Seniors Nate Peterson and Justin Jaeger, and sophomore Adrian Hanson will vie for playing time at linebacker.

The defensive line includes four players that alternated as starters last season – senior Jason Freed, juniors Kevin Pennekamp and Brandon Schwegel and sophomore Scott Romens. Pennekamp led the quartet with 28 tackles and three sacks. Freed had 25 tackles and three sacks. Schwegel tallied 12 tackles and two sacks while Romens recorded six tackles. Junior Eric Hudson and sophomore Matt Higgins will add depth to the line.

In the backfield, Zach Wigle is a two-year starter at free safety but will move to the rover position. Last season he had 44 tackles and four interceptions. Junior Brandon Fields returns at right corner and sophomore Brian Wolf will be at left corner. Senior Brian Sparby will be the starting strong safety and junior Nick Himmelsbach will start at free safety. Senior Ethan Mohs, junior Lucas Franklin and sophomores Ben Laws, Nate Schema and Justin Albers will see time in the defensive backfield.

About the Special Teams: Senior Josh Cinnamo enters the season fourth on Luther’s career scoring list with 79 points. Last season he connected on 5-of-10 field goals and 9-of-10 PATs. John Jaeger punted 66 times last season, averaging 34.7 yards per punt.

Jefferson was the top kick returner with 21 returns for 394 yards (18.8). Wigle averaged 7.1 yards per return as the Norse top punt returner.

About the Coach: Paul Hefty enters his first season as head coach at Luther. A 1986 Luther graduate, Hefty spent the last five seasons as offensive coordinator at Aurora University.

Coach Hefty on his team: “Our program will be going through some growing pains with a new offensive scheme and our coaching staff getting use to my style, expectations, etc. The one element we will be looking for and feel that is essential for us to become a football team, will be internal competition and the willingness to compete. On great football teams, it is not always the most talented players who see action, but rather the ones who are willing to lay it on the line on every play.”

Simpson College Storm
(4-6, 4-5 T-5th in IIAC)

Starters Returning: 14/10 (Offense – 6/5; Defense 6/5; Specialty 2/0)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 34/16

About the Offense: Junior quarterback Mike Donnenwerth and senior wide receiver Jesse Von Behren lead the Simpson offense. Donnenwerth started nine of ten games and completed 125-of-235 passes for 1,571 yards and 12 touchdowns. Von Behren was Simpson’s top receiver with 51 receptions for a school record 821 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Ryan Grinstead, who had 14 receptions for 151 yards from his tight end position last season, will move to split end this season. Seniors Jeromy Keehn and Kyle Peterson will also see extensive action at wide receiver. Keehn had six catches for 103 yards and Peterson had five catches for 53 yards last season.

In the backfield, junior Pete Kirwan will take over the starting running back duties. In just six games last season, he rushed for 259 yards, second on the team, and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 32 yards, including a touchdown.

Junior Jason Schnell will replace Grinstead at tight end. He had six receptions for 65 yards last season. Juniors Greg Dreyer and Robert Carpenter look to expand their role in the offense this season after serving primarily as blockers in 2001.

Senior Treye Nekola and junior Doug Dodds both started 10 games on the offensive line last season, alternating between guard and tackle. Senior Corey Dietze started four games at center and also played some guard while Tyler Smith, who began last season as a fullback, moved to the line in week two and played five games at guard.

About the Defense: Senior linebacker Todd Samuels finished second on the team with 128 tackles including 60 solo, last season and leads a group of six returning starters. Senior Josh Erickson and junior Ben Jauer have the inside track on the second linebacker position in Simpson’s 5-2 defensive set. Jauer registered seven tackles and one sack in limited action last season.

Four seniors return to the starting defensive line - Toby Aton, Josh Lullman, Caleb Sellers and Nolan Carson. Sellers finished sixth on the team with 61 tackles. Aton started eight of 10 games last season and recorded 31 tackles, including five tackles for loss. In limited action due to injury, Lullman made 16 tackles and had two sacks. Carson made 23 tackles. Senior Jon Heim and juniors Mark Klaus and Robbie Kromminga will add depth to the defensive line.

Sophomore Kyle Westphal is the lone returning starter in the defensive backfield. He entered the starting line-up midway through his freshman year and recorded 42 tackles and two interceptions. Seniors Brad Gibson and Brian Budach, junior Adam Christy and sophomore Adam Leber all saw limited action last season and will look for an expanded role this season.

About the Special Teams: Senior Brett Major, the team’s career field goal leader, returns as the Storm’s place kicker. Last season, he finished third on the team in scoring with 34 points, connecting on 22-of-25 PATs and 4-of-13 field goals. Donnenwerth will again handle the punting duties. Last season he averaged 35.4 yards per punt, including a long of 65 yards.

Peterson was Simpson’s top punt returner last season, averaging 19.6 yards on 12 returns. He will also handle kick returns this season. His lone kick return last season went for 34 yards.

About the Coach: Jay Niemann enters his first year as head coach at Simpson, replacing Jim Williams who retired after 15-years at the helm of the Storm. Niemann joins the Simpson staff after five years as an assistant coach at Northern Iowa University serving as secondary coach, linebacker coach and defensive coordinator at various times during his tenure.

Coach Niemann on his team: “In a transition year, it is difficult to predict how we will stack up because of a lack of familiarity with the League. All things being equal, Simpson will fall somewhere in the middle of the pack like 2000 and 2001.”

Coach Niemann on the Conference: “The parity in the League is incredible and is not likely to change (anytime) soon. Central and Wartburg have been the teams to beat recently, yet most games are highly competitive and close.”

Upper Iowa University Peacocks
(3-7, 3-6 8th in IIAC)

Starters Returning: 13/11 (Offense – 8/3; Defense 5/6; Specialty 0/2)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 27/18

About the Offense: Upper Iowa’s passing game will be an offensive strength this season as it quarterback and top two receivers return from last season. Senior Ben Jass had a 111.47 quarterback rating last season, completing 55.8 percent of his passes (139-for-249) for 1,471 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had one rushing touchdown. Jass’ two favorite targets from a season ago, senior Aaron Fredette and sophomore Jesse Montalto, also return to the starting line-up. Fredette led the team in receptions (35), receiving yards (460) and touchdowns (5). Montalto finished second with 25 receptions and 317 receiving yards.

Junior Jason Johnson will be the Peacocks starting halfback and sophomore Adam Johnson will start at fullback. Sophomores Javon Bailey and Steve Fillmore will add depth to the backfield.

Sophomore Wayne Traylor will start at tight end and be backed-up by junior Venn Marais. Senior Travis LoGrande will start at right guard with a quartet of juniors rounding out the starting offensive line. Paul Maafu will start at left tackle, Dino Toby will start at left guard, Eddie Rubio will start at center and Derek Turner will start at right tackle.

Seniors Josh Rathje and Jacob Conner, juniors Casey Grover and Jeremy Eberhart, and sophomore Dave Reyerson will see time on the offensive line.

About the Defense: Five seniors return to the Upper Iowa line-up this season led by All-Conference linebacker Likaki Malaki, who finished second on the team with 100 tackles, including a team-high 11 tackles for loss. He also led the team with three sacks. Senior Jimmie McCray also returns at linebacker and senior Olan Miller, who played line last season, will move to linebacker. McCray finished third on the team with 69 tackles and also recorded two sacks. Miller had 31 tackles last season. Sophomore Jose Zapata will be the fourth starting linebacker.

On the defensive line, Gene Blalock, an end, is the lone returning starter. He finished last season with 38 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Sophomore Jeremy Griffel will start at the other end and sophomore Jon Scranton will start at nose guard. Senior Andy Turnbull and juniors Josh Caruso and Ryan Davidson will serve as back-up linemen.

Senior Antone Lopez who was second on the team with 333 rushing yards last season has been moved to the defensive side of the ball and will compete with senior Kevin Valentine, sophomore Jamar Boone and freshman Nick Baker at cornerback. Senior Jay Tommasin, sophomores Byron Hook and Alec Bliss, and freshman Josh Thomas will see time at the safety positions.

About the Special Teams: Sophomore Jose Duarte will handle kicking and punting duties. Bliss and sophomore Kyle Hite will handle the return duties.

About the Coach: Craig Johnston enters his third season as head coach at Upper Iowa. During his tenure, the Peacocks have posted a 6-14 overall record. Prior to assuming head coaching duties for the 2000 season, Johnston served nine years as an assistant at Upper Iowa, including eight years as the defensive coordinator.

Wartburg College Knights
(8-2, 7-2 2nd in IIAC)

Starters Returning/Lost: 16/12 (Offense – 6/5; Defense 5/6; Specialty 5/1)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 37/22

About the Offense: Senior running back Justin Beatty and senior quarterback Jake Olsen enter the season within striking distance of career milestones. Beatty enters the year just 335 yards shy of 3,000 career rushing yards and Olsen enters the year 839 yards shy of 4,000 career passing yards. Last season, Beatty rushed for 1,353 yards and 12 touchdowns while Olsen threw for 1,752 yards and 17 touchdowns. He completed 126-of-245 passes and had a quarterback rating of 128.68.

Wartburg has plenty of depth at running back in addition to Beatty. Junior Brad Hodapp rushed for 700 yards on 147 carries and six touchdowns last season and junior Jake Flanders had 127 yards on 28 carries. Junior Scott Arthur appears to be the leading candidate for starting fullback duties. Senior Mike Woltz will back-up Olsen.

Senior Ben Ford moves from defensive back to wide receiver and is joined by classmates Ryan Mix and Jeff Marsh along with juniors Chris Winter and Mike Nissen as the leading candidates to replace All-Conference receiver Dan Achenbach. Winter finished third on the team with 124 receiving yards last season. Mix had six catches for 78 yards in seven contests and Marsh had one reception for nine yards in three games.

Senior Ryan Melin had six receptions for 66 yards and will look to takeover starting tight end duties. Competing with Melin for playing time are juniors Shawn Welk and Andy Stafford and transfer Ryan McCarville.

The offensive line did not allow a sack all season and returns three starters – senior Andy Pollock and juniors Jeff Voreis and Tim Velky. Sophomore Andy Heitman saw considerable action as a freshman.

About the Defense: Juniors Vince King and J.J. Zearley return to the defensive line. King had a team-high 59 tackles, with a Conference-best 24 tackles for loss. Zearley led the team with seven sacks. Senior Erik Danielson, had 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks in five games last season and should start on the line, pending recovering from knee injuries that have slowed him throughout his career.

Senior Ryan Winters finished second on the team with 58 tackles and is the lone returning starter at linebacker. Juniors Matt Stoffel and Justin Bishop and sophomore Adam Pirkl will see action at linebacker. Last season, the trio combined for 31 tackles in limited action.

The defensive backfield returns juniors Cody Kelley and Eugene Thomas. They combined for 11 interceptions last season with Kelley finishing with six and Thomas with five. Kelley recorded 39 tackles, fifth on the team. Sophomore Brian McIntire recorded 16 tackles last season and will look to fill the vacancy at safety. Seniors T.J. Stoffer and Garrett Rettig, junior John Mosbach and sophomore Jake Burns will see time in the backfield as well.

About the Special Teams: Sophomore Jordan Maus and Mark Giesmann will handle kicking and punting duties, respectively, as they did in 2001. Maus finished with 27 points including two field goals and 21-of-24 on PATs. Giesmann averaged 32.9 yards on 47 punts last season.

Hodapp was the Knights’ top kick returner last season, returning 11 kicks for an average of 22.4 yards. Chris Winter averaged 11.0 yards on five punt returns last season.

About the Coach: Rick Willis enters his sixth season as head coach at Wartburg. During his tenure, the Knights have an overall record of 43-8, including a 10-0 record during the 1999 season. He ranks third in victories all-time at Wartburg and has the best five-year starting mark in school history.

Coach Willis on his team: “Past experiences, good and bad, will play a key role this year. There is at least one player returning at each position group that saw playing time last year. They have played in the big games and know what is expected. Everyone worked hard in the off-season to meet the goal of regaining the Conference championship. The tough losses from last year add to our experience and serve to motivate us this year.”

Coach Willis on the Conference: “You can’t rest against anyone in this League. You have to be ready to play all nine weeks.”